2018 MCASC-NCMA-VMA Regional Meeting August 8-12 in Greenville, South Carolina Welcome to the 2018 MCASC-NCMA-VMA Regional Meeting Our passion is getting more people to say, Yeah! to Greenville, SC. yeah let s meet there let s stay there let s eat there let s play there let s shop there let s live there Welcome to Yeah That Greenville! We are glad you are here! Sincerely, Online Registration Available NOW! Chris Stone President
Hotel Reservations Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center 670 Verdae Boulevard Greenville, SC 29607 Room Rate: $138 Group Code: MCASC/NCMA/VMA Supplier Reservation deadline: July 23 Call 1-800-218-8712 to make reservations. Dress Code Pack for comfort keeping in mind that while you re dressing for comfort, you re a professional. Dress code for all meeting events will be business casual unless otherwise specified. If you have questions or concerns, please call the MCASC, NCMA, or VMA office. The staff welcome the opportunity to be of service. If you have special needs, please alert staff prior to the regional meeting. Airport Shuttle MCASC will provide an Airport Shuttle from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport to Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center and return. Scheduled shuttles will be provided on August 7 for early arrivals, August 8, August 9, and August 12. Airport Shuttle will be arranged according to flight plans. Report your travel plans to the association office by June 8 to secure a seat on an association provided shuttle. Registration Confirmation Your registration confirmation will be emailed to you shortly after you register. Be sure to review the confirmation for accuracy according to what you submitted. If you signed up for a tour and find that your plans change, be sure to notify association staff as quickly as possible. Guaranteed numbers are given to host sponsors beginning about two weeks in advance of the regional meeting. The operator registration list will be published in electronic form unless the MCASC-NCMA-VMA office has been notified to send it by mail. 2
Schedule of Events Wednesday, August 8 11:00 12:30 MCASC Board of Directors Meeting 1:00 6:00 Registration 1:30 5:00 Operator Education Sessions 5:30 6:15 Association Business Sessions: MCASC, NCMA, and VMA Operator members should attend their respective business session. 7:00 Welcome Dinner Thursday, August 9 8:00 5:00 Registration 6:30 8:30 Embassy Breakfast 8:45 11:00 Coach Visitation 11:15 12:45 Coach Presentations 1:00 2:00 Lunch 2:15 5:00 Operator Education Sessions 2:15 3:00 Rising Star/New Member and First Timer Orientation 3:15 4:45 Associate Session: Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 5:30 6:30 Meet the Operators Round Table Discussion 7:00 Board Coaches 7:30 Early Bird Dine-Around Dinner Specific restaurants have been identified to host members and guests for dinner. 10:00 12:00 Hospitality after event Friday, August 10 8:00 5:30 Registration 6:30 8:30 Embassy Breakfast 7:30 Board Coach for Golf Tournament 8:00 12:30 Golf Tournament Lunch included on all tours. 8:30 Board coach for Tour 1: Culinary Tour with Progressive Lunch 9:00 Board coach for Tour 2: Upstate Blue Ridge History 9:00 Board coach for Tour 3: BMW plus Greenville s Past, Present, and Future 10:00 Board coach for Tour 4: Exploration, Art, and Shopping 10:00 Board coach for Tour 5: The Brewery Experience All tours are scheduled to return to the Embassy Suites Hotel by 1:00. All tours will have an experienced tour operator on board each coach along with a representative from the CVB. 2:45 5:45 Market Place I (Scheduled Appointments) 7:00 Ice Breaker Dinner Event at Embassy Suites Hotel Pavilion Games planned to encourage team building! 10:00 12:00 Hospitality Saturday, August 11 6:30 8:30 Embassy Breakfast 8:00 5:00 Registration 8:45 12:15 Market Place II (Scheduled Appointments) 12:30 2:00 Lunch 2:15 3:15 Display Booth Visitation 3:30 4:30 Market Place III (Open Floor all Associates) 4:30 5:30 Market Place IV (Scheduled Appointments) 6:30 Reception 7:00 Awards Dinner 9:30 Hospitality after event Sunday, August 12 6:30 9:00 Embassy Breakfast 8:00 9:00 Devotional 9:15 9:45 Joint Board Meeting 3
TOUR OPTIONS & GOLF TOUR 1 CULINARY TOUR WITH PROGRESSIVE LUNCH Join John Nolan to get a glimpse of the Greenville culinary scene and have special access beyond the normal dining encounter. Tour includes meeting the chef s, cooking demonstrations and learning fascinating insights into Greenville s rich history, culture and architecture as you go. Culinary tours are our most recent offerings taking you on fun-filled tours to some of our city s top restaurants for behind the scene stops, chef and owner talks, historic and cultural insights, and much, much more. Come and take our tour for a pleasurable, unique way to experience the fantastic city of Greenville! Tour limit to the first 20 guests, will be a walking tour on Main Street. Depart Embassy Suites at 8:30am. TOUR 2 UPSTATE BLUE RIDGE HISTORY See the GREAT LAKES of the Upstate Blue Ridge. Hear the history of why, how and when these 3 GREAT LAKES were built and the purpose they serve today. Feel the majestic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountain Escarpment (where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Piedmont Region of the Upstate of South Carolina). Find out how Clemson University came to be. See Death Valley and the famous Howard s Rock home to the 1981 and 2016 NCAA Football National Champions. Enjoy lunch at a French Chateau Winery tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains complete with wine and beautiful views and music. Tour Limit of 55 guests. Mostly riding tour on a motor coach, but some walking at stops along the way. Departs Embassy Suites at 9:00am. TOUR 3 BMW PLUS GREENVILLE S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE Spend some time learning about Greenville s Past, Present and Future by taking this museum tour. At BMW Zentrumthe past, present and future of BMW come together in a one-of-a-kind building. See the cars, the speed, and the innovation all in the only BMW museum in North America. The Zentrum is more than just a museum; it s a meeting and events center, a cafe, a gallery and a history lesson all wrapped into one ultimate experience. Located next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the U.S., this unique place offers something for everyone. At Upcountry History Museum, Furman University, spend some time exploring the regional history of fifteen upstate counties from the early 18th Century to present. Exhibits designed by Christopher Chadbourne and Associates emphasize technology rather than artifacts to engage the senses, ignite the imagination and transport visitors back in time. Lunch provided at conclusion of tour. Departs from Embassy Suites at 9:00am. 4
TOUR 4 EXPLORATION, ART, AND SHOPPING Spend your time walking Main Street to discover public art, and unique shops. While there s no denying the quality and caliber of our galleries and museums, we think that art is something that should be shared and enjoyed by everyone, all the time. That s why many of the streets and parks of Greenville are home to 70+ pieces of stunning original art. From the whimsical to the wow, you ll encounter pieces that make you smile, make you think, and make you feel. And isn t that what art is really all about? We will arm you with Mice on Main hints, Greenville Public Art Walking Tour and a Downtown Map to spend some time on self-exploration. Ending with a group lunch at one of our local owned restaurants. Departs from Embassy Suites at 10:00am. TOUR 5 THE BREWERY EXPERIENCE Spend the morning with Certified Cicerone learning about the Craft Beer being created in Greenville, SC! Gary or his apprentice will guide you through beer making and introduce you to two local breweries, their brew masters and the facilities. Gary will educate you in a fun, engaging and down to earth way while he shares his passion and knowledge with his guests. Tastings at each stop and lunch are included. You must be 21 to participate and bring valid ID. This tour is limited to the first 100 guests. Tour Departs Embassy Suites at 10:00am. GOLF THE PRESERVE AT VERDAE Welcome to The Preserve at Verdae! With rolling hills and mountain-like brooks creating a harmony between golf and nature, the Willard Byrd designed, 18-hole championship course spans over 100 lush acres. This is an Embassy Suites Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center course. The Preserve at Verdae is a certified Wildlife Habitat that provides sanctuary for a large array of wildlife in our rapidly developing urban area. Wild turkeys, deer, raccoons, ducks, rabbits, birds and beaver are a sampling of the residents who welcome you to enjoy a round of golf. Naturalizing the course reduces the use of water, pesticides and fertilizers making The Preserve an eco-friendly golf course. Natural products are favored in lieu of harmful chemicals whenever possible. The fee for golf is $100. 5
Market Place There are four market place sessions for operators and associates. Three have scheduled appointments. The fourth is an open session allowing associates to meet with operators who are not on their schedule. Associates, don t underestimate the value of visiting all operators. Charter operators will share your material with their charter customers. Many times the charter customers ask advice for their itinerary. Operators, please plan to bring 300 business cards to share with associates in market place and at other meeting events. Associates, please bring your material 3-hole punched or protected by a 3-hole punched acetate folder for the operators market place binders. Plan to deliver your material to the operators during your appointment. New Member Orientation Veteran Members, including operators and associates, are welcomed in the new member orientation session. Your expertise in the group market over years of experience is priceless when shared with new members or first time attendees. If you are a new member or this is your first time to attend the regional meeting, come join us to learn, not only information about Market Place and the associations in general, but maybe pick up a tidbit of information that might help you learn to network effectively with operators, gain their confidence and trust, and gain more motorcoach group business. You may submit any questions you have in advance by calling Linda at 888-376-1150 or email at info@scmotorcoach.org. Audience participation is encouraged and welcomed. As an added value, a special Meet the Operators session will be held with the intent of giving associate members an opportunity to learn about operators expectations and desires related to motorcoach group travel. Operators will visit assigned tables for a get to know discussion so associates may learn more about them prior to market place. Display Booths The regional meeting and market place will offer booth space for those associates who wish to bring a display. The displays will be placed convenient to the market place and other meeting events for operator visitation. A specific time for operators and other members to visit the display booths has been scheduled. Depending on available space, there may be as many as 15 display booths sold at $225 each. Please select the display booth option on the registration form, if you are interested. Display booths present an excellent opportunity for a prize drawing to promote your product as well. You will be responsible for the drawing and delivery of your prize. If you have questions, please contact Julia at the MCASC, NCMA, and VMA office, 888-376-1150 or email julia@motorcoachassociation.com. 6
Awards MARKET PLACE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR (VMA award and NCMA award) will be presented to an Operator selected by the Associate membership recognizing the efforts made to be attentive and interested in information presented during market place appointments. MARKET PLACE ASSOCIATE OF THE YEAR (VMA award and NCMA award) will be presented to an Associate selected by the Operators to reward an Associate who has gone beyond the call of duty to help satisfy customers at the Associate s venue. THE CHRIS HARROWER ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (joint VMA and NCMA award) will be presented in memory of Chris Harrower, a long time member of VMA and NCMA. THE ASSOCIATES CHOICE AWARD (MCASC) will be presented to an Operator selected by the Associate membership recognizing efforts to support Associates and the group tour industry of South Carolina. THE OPERATORS CHOICE AWARD (MCASC) will be presented to an Associate selected by the Operator membership recognizing efforts to support Operators and the group tour industry of South Carolina. MCASC LEGACY AWARD will recognize an individual who has made a lasting impact on the motorcoach and/or the group tour industry in South Carolina, one who has left a legacy or is currently a testament to ideals that shape the industry. ROBERT T. MITCHELL PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD (VMA) will recognize an outstanding person in the motorcoach industry, one who has distinguished himself or herself by unselfish dedication to promote the industry. These awards will be presented at the Awards Dinner. Gifts and Door Prizes Gifts for the registration bags, or gifts specifically for operators, are a good way to get your name in front of the operators and others. It is a good way to get special recognition in printed materials for the regional meeting and after-meeting publications. If you enjoy getting gifts in your registration bag, consider giving a gift. It is fun, and it is a nice way to say welcome to the Regional Meeting. Door prizes will be accepted on a limited basis. Only the first 15 door prizes registered will be accepted for distribution during education or meal sessions. Complete the sponsor form, which has been emailed to all members. Fax or email the form to the association office. If you have questions or want to check the status of registered door prizes, please call Linda at 888-376-1150 or email at info@scmotorcoach.org. 7
Thank You Sponsors! MCASC, NCMA and VMA are grateful for the support of their Associate members. To date, these members are contributing financial support for meal events, meeting programs, notepads, pocket schedules, badges, registration bags, registration gifts, operator gifts, and door prizes. It is not too late to participate in the meeting as a sponsor. Call Linda at 888-376-1150 or fax the sponsor form to 866-376-1156. The support of Associate Members is essential to implement a meeting that is of the quality to which members have become accustomed. Financial support for events helps keep registration fees at a minimum for all attendees. Sponsorships also give Associates an opportunity to be recognized and appreciated in a special way. We are happy to promote the sponsors by pre-meeting newsletter recognition, signage, program highlights, and post-meeting newsletter recognition. Every effort is made to let the sponsors know how much the members and staff appreciate this meeting support. A special thank you is extended to the following sponsors of the Regional Meeting to date: ABC Companies Allen Insurance Group American Bus Association Billy Graham Library Birthplace of Country Music Museum City of Abingdon Crooked Road Discover DeKalb Diverse Concepts Friends of SW Virginia Lancer Insurance Company Matthews Bus Alliance Motor Coach Industries Ocean Downs Casino Prevost Car (US) Sardo Bus and Coach Upholstery Smoky Mountain Resorts Hospitality Group Sugar Tours Sunshine Travel & Express The Carolina Opry Theater U. S. Tours and partners United Motorcoach Association Visit Greenville, SC WorldStrides Yankee Candle Village - Williamsburg, VA 8